Book Review: The Wildelings by Lisa Harding

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Book: The Wildelings by Lisa Harding

Genre: Dark Academia, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction

Publisher: HarperVia

The Wildelings begins by following the friendship of two adolescent girls, Jessica and Linda, and the sister-like bond they build across their broken homes in suburban Ireland. As the story progresses, we see the evolution of the girls’ relationship as they enter adulthood at Wilde College in Dublin. It is at Wilde where they meet a group of serpentine friends that changes their dynamic and lives forever. 

The writing in Lisa Harding’s novel is dark and poetic. Her words are unfiltered and intense with a brutal honesty that mirrors the emotional tone of the book. Harding also utilizes a dual-timeline POV that adds a layer of introspection to her work. We see Jessica’s memories of the past play out in vignettes, but we also see her analysis of the past via present-day sessions with her therapist. This technique immerses the reader in the process of reconciling trauma and healing. 

The characters in this book are unforgettable in their history and depth. They all come from dysfunctional family backgrounds, and they are all seeking outward validation to compensate for what they lack. The entire ensemble has experienced hardship in some way; however, each person struggles with unique behaviors related to his or her individual wounds. The story begs the reader to examine the many ways childhood trauma manifests and how it contributes to one’s self-identity and views of platonic and romantic relationships. 

Harding explores critical, psychological themes such as generational trauma, abandonment, manipulation, codependency, and emotional/ physical abuse. At the heart of the story, The Wildelings highlights the complexities of processing and healing from the things that have deeply hurt us in the past. 

Equal parts dark academia and literary fiction, The Wildelings is a contemplative portrait of grief, discovery, and atonement. Harding’s novel is raw and emotional, and an exceptional fiction read to better understand the human condition. 

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperVia, and Lisa Harding for allowing me to read this copy in advance in exchange for my honest review. 

This book is scheduled to release on April 15, 2025. 

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